"That was a great caper o' yours Dan," they told him. "You want to practice that an' get it just right. It's useful."

He noted with a faint surprise that none of them remarked a significance in the fact that it was the Finn who had saved him. But when dinner was over and the men were getting to bed for the afternoon's sleep, he slipped aft to the sail-locker for a word with the Finn.

The doors were open now, and the place had light from both sides. The Finn did not look up from his work as Goodwin entered and sat down among the sails.

"You done me a good turn this mornin', Nick," said Goodwin quietly. "If it hadn't ha' been for you, I guess I wouldn't ha' seen 'Frisco again."

Nick's answer was his usual throaty grunt.

"But now," pursued Goodwin evenly, "you might just as well let me have that bit o' canvas for a bag. I--I got a hunch I won't be needin' it any other way."